Medice Ceres

Chapter 23

A pale violet light appeared overhead that pulsed with blackness. Waithe held his breath. This was a Spirit, but so wrong. With each black pulse came a shockwave of despair that struck the deepest parts of his heart, ripping hope from it. Following that came a cold emotionless numbness that tore at the roots of his self, one that would steal freewill. That must be the Darkness!

Ceres' eyes shot wide open but unfocused. She shuddered as her breaths came quick and shallow. A string of faint mournful cries rose from her lips. The Darkness must have wrenched up her nightmare, the one of close dark places that terrified her. The others in the room suffered as well. They shook in their beds and clutched at the air as if to prevent themselves from falling.

Waithe jerked his head around. The Woman of Light said love would defeat the Darkness, but how? The spot on his cheek where she kissed him still tingled and the warmth that radiated through him still held. She did say she would strengthen those who would resist the Darkness. He willed his feet to move and kneeled next to Eira. He pulled the little girl into his arms and hugged her, calming her trembles.

"Little Eira, Ceres needs us. Help me call Phy. Will you do that for her?"

She nodded and closed her eyes. Waithe mentally called out to the Spirit Phy but was unsure if she could hear him. Within a moment Phy's green light appeared. She dashed about erratically, filling the room with green as she flashed.

Waithe knew what to do now. He closed his eyes and the vision came.

The lantern illuminated little of the dark forest as night fell. He called out, "Aala, where be you?" His little daughter was an adventurous soul, but had an unfortunate tendency to wander off. He motioned to his wife Fera. If they split up they could cover more ground. Progress came slowly through the thick brush and trees. A faint cry reached his ears and he headed toward it. He called out again, "Aala!" The little girl emerged from the darkness and ran to him. He knelt and scooped her into his arms. She sobbed into his shoulder. "You be found again, little lost one. Safe be you now." Fera came up and put her arms around them both. She whispered, "We love you, Aala."

Ceres' eyes came to focus and she steeled her expression, then crawled from her bed and took hold of Waithe's and Eira's hands. She called out, "Anu, Dal, Myr. Life Spirits, come to us! Let us together chase away the Darkness."

Three more lights appeared: silver, amber, and umber. The lights flashed, becoming brighter and synchronized with Phy's green light. Ceres stood and held her arms up. The Life Spirits surrounded the pale violet light. Their light overcame the pulsing Darkness.

Ceres commanded, "Be gone, Nyx!"

The dark pulses stopped and the violet light disappeared. Waithe caught Ceres as she stumbled.

She said to him, "We are not done yet."

The Life Spirits slowed and hovered above Ceres. The shimmering lights of Magic came forth from her hands and shrouded everyone in the room. Black mists rose from them and dissipated. Alden and Jenn's breathing slowed and they opened their eyes. The shimmer went next to the guards, the two who stood watch and the others who slept in an adjoining room.

Ceres took a deep breath. She smiled as she looked up at the four Life Spirits above. "Thank you, my friends."

The color drained from Ceres' face and she slumped down. Her mouth opened, but no words came out. Waithe picked her up and placed her gently on the bed.

*****

Jenn came back into the room frowning, three of her soldiers flanked her. Waithe lifted his eyebrows to her and she shook her head. "It is as you feared. Adelia is dead, her throat laid open in the carriage. The two soldiers who stood watch over her are dead as well."